CLEMSON – The defensive tackle room is going through a changing of the guard for Nick Eason and Clemson, but the Tigers loaded up with their two commitments in the 2024 cycle.

Four-stars Champ Thompson and Hevin Brown-Shuler are entering the room to mitigate key losses. Head coach Dabo Swinney spoke highly of the pair on early signing day, especially as people before players.

“Two of my favorite kids that I’ve ever recruited. Just two great, great families and great kids in the whole recruiting process that I’ve been a part of,” Swinney said.

Tyler Davis and Ruke Orhorhoro made it tough shoes to fill, but it’s a deep room with the likes of Peter Woods and DeMonte Capehart. Each already have bodies built for the college level and Swinney joked about how it’s a great pair of names for the group as well.

“It’s two pretty good names. Hevin and Champ. That’s two pretty good names for the D tackles,” Swinney said. “These are two big, strong, athletic, dynamic players with big personalities and you know, just so much more than football players. They’re very elite players but just two great young men.”

Thompson and Brown-Shuler were both recruits landed out of Georgia, where they made their names at the high school level. The former is already with the team, practicing ahead of the Tigers’ Gator Bowl Matchup.

On the other hand, Brown-Shuler will join the program next summer. Regardless of when they arrive, both are key additions to the Clemson defense that terrorized opposing offenses in 2023.